Gators running back Jeff Demps Ready to Return Focus Back to Football
Tuesday, July 26, 2011 | Football, Scott Carter
Senior running back Jeff Demps met with Gators coach Will Muschamp on Tuesday and reiterated that he remains committed to playing his final season of football.
Demps spent all spring and summer running track – he repeated as the NCAA 60-meter indoor champion in March -- and said he is now ready to turn his focus back to football. Demps rushed for a team-high 551 yards last season despite being hampered by a foot injury most of the season.
In three seasons, Demps has rushed for 1,901 yards and averaged 7.1 yards per carry. He has four runs of 60 or more yards over that span, twice as many as any other Gator in the last 15 seasons.
“When I came to Florida I wanted to compete at a very high level in both sports and I've done that,'' Demps said. “Football has been my first love but I also love running track. All of my coaches have been supportive and I've always been able to concentrate on whatever sport I'm competing in during that season.
“I concentrated on track this past spring and summer and I'm now ready to concentrate on football. I'm looking forward to getting back together with my football teammates and having a great senior season.''
The return of Demps and Chris Rainey provide the Gators with great speed and much-needed experience in the backfield in Muschamp's first season.
“As I stated last week in Birmingham, Jeff Demps will be joining our football program when our squad reports for camp on Aug. 5 and when we start practice on Aug. 6,'' Muschamp said. “I met with him today and Jeff is looking forward to focusing on football for his upcoming senior season.''
